Penang Hospital's RM40m ACC lacking in security and safety features

Sun2Surf: PENANG: The RM40 million Ambulatory Care Centre (ACC) which was supposed to have been completed in January 2003 and is 3.5 years behind schedule, will need another RM800,000 to rectify security and safety features which have been found wanting.
Health Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said today (Aug 4, 2006): "We will have to seek additional funds from the government to enable the rectifications to the building to be carried out."
The construction of the ACC under the Eighth Malaysia Plan (8MP) was to facilitate providing services to patients undergoing minor surgery, chemotherapy, haemodialysis and other services which would enable the patients to go home at the end of the same day.
Lee said with six operating threatres at the ACC and beds to cater for day care patients, the other 1,099 beds in Penang Hospital can be fully utilised for patients needing longer stays in the hospital.
Right now, at least 20% of the beds are being occupied by those who only need day care treatment.
"The ministry has refused to accept delivery of the building as there are some important systems which have yet to be put in place as per the agreement which are crucial for the smooth operations of the centre.
"Some of these requirements were not clearly specified in the agreement and since hospitals are specialised buildings, we need extra safety and security measures.
"Among them include generators and the necessary backup systems which will be crucial to ensure continuous supply of electricity.
"The ministry will now have to seek additional funds to complete the centre and we hope to be able to open it within six months of obtaining the funds," Lee said after a meeting with representatives from the Public Works Department (PWD) which was in charge of overseeing the project, Penang health director Dr Ong Chee Ling and Penang Hospital director Dr Zaininah Mohd Zain.
Lee added that there were also other projects undertaken by the ministry throughout the country under the 8MP which should have been completed but have yet to be delivered to the ministry.
They included Cameron Highlands Hospital, Sungai Petani Hospital and Alor Star Hospital.
Other projects which have been delayed under the 8MP include two ACCs in Ipoh and Kuantan, Lee added.
"The ministry is looking seriously into expediting the completion and taking delivery of these facilities as we have to start working on the numerous projects under the Ninth Malaysia Plan," he said.